Author: Adam Dobrzynski

Publisher: Adam's Shotokan Karate Books

Published: 2023-10-27

Total Pages: 325

ISBN-13: 1736344722

This heavy-duty Shōtōkan encyclopedia, dictionary, lexicon, glossary, and linguistic tool: ✓ Teaches how to analyze and understand karate vocabulary. ✓ Breaks the Karate terms into their building blocks and puts an emphasis on the basic main building blocks of the karate language. ✓ Systematically analyses over a 100 of basic Karate Kanji for deep understanding of the terms, names, and concepts. ✓ Corrects many conceptual and linguistic common mistakes. ✓ Provides links between different Karate expressions. ✓ Presents different translations from Japanese to English. ✓ Presents different Japanese writings. ✓ Includes phonetic spelling. ✓ Refers to important sources. ✓ Addresses the Chinese origins. ✓ Includes Comprehensive index. ✓ Includes Wide-ranging bibliography. ✓ Includes 500 values | 1,800 cross-references | 175 kanji. ✓ Includes special bonuses. ✓ Perfect for both beginners and senior instructors. ✓ Perfect for English speakers. ✓ Perfect for a clearer and deeper understanding of the Karate vocabulary, substantively and linguistically. --- More information: This robust Karate lexicon of over 500 carefully selected representative values and references: Key words, core commands and general vocabulary such as postures, stances, Kata names, techniques, moves, thrusts, punches, strikes, blocks, kicks, body parts, styles, people, places, and other topics related to traditional Japanese Shōtōkan Karate and other Funakoshi Karate organizations such as Shotokai. A perfect gift for your Karate instructor, fellow Karate practitioners, or your Karate students. Language: English Paperback: 325 pages Item Weight: 1.25 pounds Dimensions: 7 x 0.74 x 10 inches --- Presentation: Karate jargon is integral to everyday practice. Without solid understanding of the Karate vocabulary, it is easy to fall into technical and conceptual errors. The purpose of this Shotokan dictionary is to bring the reader closer to the Karate terminology we so often use, but so rarely explore. This book can be described as a Japanese-English Shotokan dictionary, as well as a heavy-duty professional glossary of Karate terms related to Funakoshi styles. It can also be defined as a Shotokan encyclopedia or as a Karate lexicon, which focuses on the linguistic aspects of Karate phrases. Through the language, we dive into Karate itself. Although planned for senior Karate instructors, absolute beginners may also benefit from this Karate wordlist. As for its content, the main goal – naturally – is to translate from “Karate language” to English. The book offers various English definitions of the Japanese technical terms, making it a powerful Japanese-English dictionary of the terms used in Karate. Sometimes the Karate meaning does not overlap with the general meaning of a word. If the common, or general, Japanese translation of a Karate term may be relevant, we bring it as well. It was Seneca who said: “If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable”. If we were to achieve a high standard of execution, we cannot afford not to understand – literally - the Karate commands. A clear understanding of the Karate terms is indispensable. Breaking down Karate expressions into their building blocks, does seem to achieve a deeper understanding of them. This Karate glossary puts a special emphasis on the important Kanji, including thorough Kanji-analysis and relevant cross-references. Deep meanings of important Shotokan expressions are sought, and their links to other Karate words are drawn. In our opinion, the references are this book’s greatest virtue, and we urge our dear readers to be diligent and to follow them – especially when it comes to the Kanji that compose the value. A large part of this Shotokan glossary is devoted to pronunciation issues. This Karate wordbook presents different Kanji readings, which may be very important in the case of several terms that have a common Kanji. Critical phenomena in Japanese phonology, such as the rendaku rules, are addressed too. Besides transliterations of Japanese and Chinese into the Latin alphabet (romanization, Rōmaji), the advanced user will find logographic Kanji and syllabic Kana. Often, alternative writings are presented, so the reader can make better use of other sources – especially Japanese sources. --- Introduction During a Gasshuku (合宿) (training camp) that took place in Israel in 2022, Yaniv Murciano Sensei was correcting his disciples’ Kankū-dai. Talking about the finishing double kick, he asked everyone what Nidan-geri means. Whan the practitioners said that it means a double kick, the Sensei’s response was: “so You should kick twice, not once”. Indeed, Nidan-geri (p. 184) is not Tobi-geri (p. 245). The former is less about flying. The name reminds us to perform the technique better. Our words affect our insights, and our perceptions determine the words we are using. FUNAKOSHI Sensei and other masters had profound knowledge, not only of the Chinese classics[i] and the Japanese culture, but also of the Japanese language[ii]. The names that we use in our Karate trainings were not chosen lightly nor accidentally. As for us, those names have great significance. “What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet”, says Juliet in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. In Karate’s case, we humbly prefer Confucius’s[iii] approach. In the words of the Chinese philosopher Feng Youlan (1895 – 1990)[iv]: Every name possesses its own definition, which designates that which makes the thing to which the name is applied be that thing and no other. In other words, the name is that thing’s essence or concept. What is pointed out by the definition of the name ‘ruler,’ for example, is that essence which makes a ruler a ruler. In the phrase: ‘Let the ruler be ruler,’ etc., the first word, ‘ruler,’ refers to ruler as a material actuality, while the second ‘ruler’ is the name and concept of the ideal ruler. Take the example of the name Jitte (p. 111). If a day comes, when they debate about how many hand movements there are in the opening of the Kata, the name of the Kata will be there to help. Some are going to realize, that there are Ten Hands - meaning ten palm strikes - up to the first Kiai; this understanding will derive from the name of the Kata. Some of the ten hand strikes are simultaneous. So, the right answer, they will hopefully conclude, is three. But why Japanese, one asks; You can say Double Kick or Ten Hands in any language. First, it is a tradition. Second, we feel connected to something bigger than our Dōjō[v]. And indeed, in mutual training, correspondence, etc., we can communicate well with people that do not speak our language. The Japanese parts of our Karate-pidgin are a common ground. But most importantly, studies show that language influences the way we think[vi]. The Chinese philosopher Dong Zhongshu (179–104 BC) used etymology as a hermeneutic tool[vii]: The present generation is ignorant about human nature, giving various teachings about it. Why do they not try to examine the name “nature”? Does not the name “nature” (xìng 性) mean “birth” (shēng 生)? The capacity that one naturally has at birth is what is called the “nature”. The nature is one’s mere potential. Accordingly, if we want to understand what it means to be a warrior, we should look at the Kanji for warrior. That is what the Chinese King Zhuāng of Chǔ (7th century B.C.) did. The Kanji for warrior is 武 (p. 45). If one looks carefully, one can see that this Compound Logogram is composed of the Radical 止 (p. 271) which could mean to stop – just as in our yame {{止め}} (p. 270), and from the Stem 戈 (dagger-axe). We should never look at the command Yame in the same way again. Putting an end to violence is indeed the highest level of the art of war; that was the King’s conclusion, based on the Logogram[viii],[ix]. For us, the language and the Sino-Japanese Logograms are indispensable for understanding Karate, from technique to spirit. --- The back cover text: Front cover: Shōtōkan symbol’s ancient forefather. Karate is analogous to a tree. We are sitting on a very high branch. Sometimes we are looking down at the stem beneath us, and sometimes not. Anyways, the important and interesting things are in the roots, which are invisible to the average instructor. We do not even know where our symbol came from. In all my writings, including the dictionary you are holding, I do my best to shed light on those roots. Here, we try to get a clearer and deeper understanding of linguistic aspects. I hope you will find this book informative and useful, and wish you a pleasant read. Adam Dobrzyński --- TAGS: JKA gift Shotokan gift Karate gift Shotokan basics Shotokan textbook Karate terminology Karate vocabulary Karate lexicon Japanese encyclopedia terminology vocabulary language jargon lexicon karate basic words karate advanced terms karate basic terms key words and commands shotokan key terms